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Friday, March 13, 2015

As usual I'll be sharing some of my favorite looks from the New York Fashion Week Runways. Right now the Fall Ready to Wear collections are being shown...

Alice + Olivia

Stacey Bendet was inspired by the 60's and 70's for her fall Alice + Olivia collection and the result is a variety of super fun retro, boho, glam looks. Statement coats, rich, luxurious fabrics, and gilded metallics are some of the highlights. I love all the black and gold looks because that is one of my favorite color combos. Here are a few of my favorites....

Sunday, March 8, 2015

Friday was my 18th birthday and I got to do a little shopping so I wanted to show you guys what I got...

I got these 2 dresses from Target and I think the second one is going to be my Easter dress. I love simple, fit and flare dresses like these that can work for all seasons. Just throw a cardigan or jacket over them and they're perfect for cooler weather.

This dress I found at a local boutique and it is an absolute statement piece, I'm planning on wearing it when I go to see Wicked on Broadway in April. It has a really cool retro mod silhouette and the whole thing shimmers with emerald green sequins. I've been on the hunt for the perfect chambray shirt for a while and I found this one at Target. I love the light wash and I got it a couple sizes too big so it would have a relaxed oversized fit.

I found this shirt at another one of our local boutiques and I loved the quote on it. It's super soft too! The leggings are from Target and while I won't be wearing them out and about (they're a little crazy :)) they're a perfect addition to my yoga gear.

So yeah, that's what I got :) I've never really done a haul post like this before but I know I always like to watch haul videos on Youtube and stuff, so let me know if you like to see posts like these or not...

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

You've probably at some point seen a movie or tv scene that goes something like this... girl is prepping for bed and has slathered her face with a (the most popular is) green concoction when suddenly, there's a knock on the door. Girl opens door and the person on the other side screams (ahh who is this monster with a green face!) which causes girl to scream back. Maybe I'm just imagining this I don't know. Anyway, there are more benefits to face masks than scaring your friends :) Let's talk about some common ingredients in face masks and what they can do for you...

The Detox Squad: Clay, Mud, and Charcoal

These ingredients get the gunk out of your pores. If you struggle with blackheads and pimples look for a mask with one of these as the main ingredient. Also if your skin is oily these will help to soak up the grease.

The Soft and Soothers: Peppermint, Avocado, Aloe and Oatmeal

If you have dry or sensitive skin these ingredients are your friends.Use a mask with one or more of these and your skin will feel so nice and soft afterwards. Peppermint is really cooling too so I like to use my minty masks in the summer to leave my skin feeling refreshed.

Some of my favorite masks...

Freeman Avocado and Oatmeal Clay Mask: You can find this one at most drugstores or Ulta and it is my go to during the winter when my skin is a crazy combination of super dry and oily. The clay keeps my pores clean and the avocado and oatmeal take care of the dry patches. The only downside with this mask is that it has parabens in it so if you get freaked out about them this probably isn't one you want to use. That's something that is common with the cheaper masks so if you're willing to spend a little more cha ching for a 100% pronounceable ingredient list here are some more natural options....

InstaNatural Dead Sea Mud Mask: This is a new one for me that I've used a couple of times this week and so far I'm really pleased with it. My skin has really started to clear since using it. Who knew that mud from the Dead Sea could cleanse your skin? Actually I'm now remembering the episode of 19 Kids and Counting where they went to the Dead Sea and the girls were spreading the mud all over themselves so I guess I did know that :) Also while writing this I read the back of the container a little more closely and discovered that you can use it over your whole body and it helps with sore muscles?!? So cool, I'm definitely going to give that a try and update you on how that works in a later post. I also appreciate that all the ingredients in this mask are natural and weren't concocted in a lab, so bonus points for that. Here's a link to where you can purchase this mask. Oh, and it comes in a huge 16oz tub that will literally last you forever so I think it's a pretty fair price when you compare it to other drugstore masks. (This is the one I have on in the picture above :))

Lush Mask of Magnaminty: This mask is absolutely amazing and makes your skin feel all tingly and super clean. It's clay based so it cleans out your pores and it also contains peppermint which is what gives it that cooling tingly feeling. Additionally it has ground adzuki beans so it exfoliates your skin while you scrub it off. The major downside to this one is that it is so expensive you basically have to trade your firstborn for this stuff. I probably won't repurchase it no matter how awesome it was, but if you're looking to splurge on a little treat for yourself, your skin will love you.

Okay so I have my mask, now what???

Normally I use my masks 3-5 times a week depending on my skin and what kind of time I have. I like to put mine on before the shower because I find the best way to scrub them off without creating a giant mess is to do it in the shower. I'll slather my face 5-15 minutes before I plan on hopping in (read the directions on your mask so you know how long to keep it on) and if there is an exfoliant in the mask I just scrub it off with my hands. If there isn't a built in exfoliant, I'll sometimes use a washcloth to rub it off for some dead skin sloughing action. That's it, easy peasy.

What about sheet masks???

Not all masks are of the creamy, muddy, variety. Sheet masks are basically a thin sheet of cotton or some other fiber that's shaped like a face and soaked in a skin loving formula. You pull it out, press it to your face, and then peel it off once the time indicated on the package is up. I don't have too much experience with these, I've only tried like one, so that's about all I can tell you about those.

The people at InstaNatural are super awesome and sent me the Dead Sea Mud Mask so I could give it a test run. All opinions are 100% my own as always though!

Monday, February 23, 2015

Heeeyyy guys, it's been awhile. In case you forgot, I'm Morgan :) SO I've been kinda busy lately and unfortunately as always blogging has to be put on the backburner. The good news though is that I only have one week left in my swim season and then I will have a lot more time freed up to blog away :) Alright let's get down to the dresses. The Oscars red carpet is always a showcase for amazing gowns on gorgeous starlets and this year was no exception. Here are my top 10 favorite dresses (in no particular order) and a few honorable mentions...

1. Jamie Chung in Yanina Couture

This dress reminded me of a starry night sky and I love the way the navy tulle pairs with the nude color underneath.

Monday, January 12, 2015

It's that time again when celebrities are donning (usually) gorgeous gowns and walking down the red carpet of award shows... and I of course have to give my two cents on what they're wearing. As always, this is never intended to be mean towards the person, just because I hate their dress does not mean that I hate them :)

Okay let's start with the Best....

Emma Stone in Lanvin

I'm a big fan of women opting to wear pants on the red carpet, it's unexpected and is usually a risk that pays off well. (Remember Emma Watson's dress + pants combo last year? FAB) She looks super elegant and I love that the black pants are simple and allow the stunning top to be the focal point.

Reese Witherspoon in Calvin Klein

Simple, elegant Calvin Klein's are Reese's red carpet signature and it works for her. She always looks classy and beautiful. This dress is no exception and I'm sure it was even more stunning in person to see how the light reflected off of it as she walked.